( the last PCC Board and Officers before the pandemic)
TWO TEAMS of Philippine community leaders are aspiring to lead the peak organisation Philippine Community Council of NSW on its scheduled annual general meeting and election on Sunday afternoon 20 February at Marayong Town Hall in Marayong, NSW starting at 2:00 PM.
Incumbent PCC-NSW President Mr Alric Bulseco announced the date and venue of AGM and election in his letter to affiliates.
In his earlier letter, Mr Bulseco said Blacktown City Council the management of the venue requires prrof of doubel vaccination and wearing of masks. Also due to density limits, on the following are allowed in the venue: 1) PCC Board 2020, 2) affliate president or authorised representaive, election candidates for 2022, PCC former presidents, rerunigng officer and designated secuity.
Postings on Facebook said the two teams are The True Team led by Engineer Ferdi Francisco of Timek Iti La Union and the Back To Basic Team led by Engineer Cesar Bartolome incumbent vice president of PCC-NSW and head of Knights of Rizal.
The True Team line up and respective associations are as follows: for president Ferdi Francisco (Timek Iti La Union), for vice president external– Demi Robinson (Philippine Australian Society of Senior Citizens) , for vice president internal – Roberto Lastica (Bicol Inc), for secretary – Vangie Leones ( Kalayaan Golf Association), for treasurer – Dennis Laxamana (Australian Visayans) , for PRO Dave Tan (Filipino Cooperative), for auditor – Tess Sayas (Philippine Nurses Association) , and for directors: Dr. Roger Fabian ( Philippine Australian Medical Association) , Lilia Mackinnon ( Philippine Australian Association of Illawarra), Mercy Jones (Illawarra Women’s Group), Rey Morcilla ( NARRA), Penny Perfecto (Sonata Singers) and Maureen Santiago (Ateneo Alumni)
The Back to Basic Team are for president- Cesar Bartolome (Knights of Rizal), for vice president external – Lilian delos Reyes (Tagalog Association), for vice president internal – Grace Liston (Alpha Phi Omega Sydney), for secretary – Darrel Swadling ( Australian Multicultural) , for treasurer – Jess Arranz ( Fil-Aust Engineers) , for PRO – Espie Pogson ( Ilocano Association) , for auditor – Sheila Collantes (Hot Mamas Association) , and for directors: Emmy Rudd (Pozorrobian Association) , Maridel Enclaro ( Association of Fil-Australian Students), Ellen Padilla (Campbelltown and Region Filipino Community Council), Precy Santos ( FilAust Community Association of Eastern Suburbs), Ben Bongat (Aust Devotees of Our Lady of Penfrancia), and Lee Meekan (Abra Association).
The last PCC-NSW election was held in February 2020 and was postponed several times because of the pandemic. There are about 32 affiliates association who voted in the 2020 election also held at the same venue at Mmarayong community hall in Marayong, NSW. PCC-NSW is the long recognised umbrella body of Filipino Australian association in NSW and traditionally hosts the prestigious and high ticketed Philippine Independence Ball in June and the free public Philippine Christmas Festival in November